Electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

An electronic cigarette comprises an atomizer and further comprises a connector as well as a charger which is electrically connected to the atomizer though the connector; the charger is manual chargers for providing power to the atomizer though the connector. The electronic cigarette in the present invention can be charged by the manual charger which is convenient to use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 201320025255.4 filed in P.R. China on Jan. 17, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a daily-used electronic product, and more particularly to an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a battery of the electronic cigarette supplies power to an atomizer when the battery is run out, the battery is charged by the fixed power source. But when the user is in the outside or in the filed, it is unable to connect the battery to the fixed power source to be charged for the reason that it is hard to find a fixed power source or lack of a suitable charger, making the using process of the electronic cigarette inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic cigarette comprising a manual charger which can be used at any time anywhere, solving the problem that it is inconvenient to get charged.

In order to realize the object mentioned above, an electronic cigarette is provided, including an atomizer, and further including a connector as well as a charger which is electrically connected to the atomizer by the connector; the charger is a manual charger for providing power to the atomizer though the connector.

A power generation device is defined inside the charger, including a manual lever part, a transmission system and a generator. The transmission system is connected to the generator and the manual lever respectively;

-   -   the motion of the manual lever part drives the transmission         system to rotate , which further makes the rotor of the         generator rotate, finally transforms the mechanical energy to         electrical energy.

The connector comprises a cigar pipe and a connecting wire in external connection to the cigar pipe.

A circuit board and a power module is defined inside the charger, the power module is connected to the generator and the circuit board respectively, the power module is used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator; the circuit board is also connected to the connecting wire, and the circuit board as well as the connector is used to transmit the electrical energy stored in the power module to the atomizer. A circuit board is defined inside the charger and a power module is defined inside the connector. The generator is connected to the circuit board and the power module is also connected to the circuit board through the connecting wire; the circuit board and the connecting wire is used to transmit the electrical energy generated by the generator to the power module, and then store the electrical energy through the power module.

The atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection.

By adopting the electronic cigarette of the present embodiment, following benefits can be achieved:

By setting a manual charger in the electronic cigarette, it is able to charge the electronic cigarette at any time and anywhere even in the situation that it is lack of normal charging supply or a charger, improving the convenience of using the electronic cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the integral structural representation of the electronic cigarette in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the exploded view of the integral structure of the electronic cigarette in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the inner structure of the charger of the electronic cigarette referred in the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the section view of the connector of the electronic cigarette in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the section view of the charger of the electronic cigarette in another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to understand the technical features, purpose and the effect of the present invention more clearly, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described referring to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electronic cigarette of the present invention includes an atomizer 1, a connector 2 as well as a charger 3 which is electrically connected to the atomizer 1 though the connector 2; the charger is a manual charger 3 for providing power to the atomizer 1 through the connector 2.

In specific, the manual charger 3 can be a charger of hand cranking type as well as a hand grip type.

Optimally, the atomizer 1 and the connector 2 are in screwed connection. But the connecting way between the atomizer 1 and the connector 2 can be interference fit, buckle connection and the wedge action.

The connector 2 includes a cigar pipe 21 and a connecting wire 22 which is in external connection to the cigar pipe 21. The connecting wire 22 and the cigar pipe 21 are made as a whole. As it knows, the cigar pipe 21 and the connecting wire 22 can be also dismantled, by setting a power port on the cigar pipe 21 as well as a first plug suitable for the power port on the corresponding end of the connecting wire 22. By inserting the first plug into the power port, the cigar pipe 21 and the connecting wire 22 is connected to each other.

A power generation device is defined inside the charger 3, which includes a manual lever part 311, a transmission system 312 and a generator 313. The transmission system 312 is connected to the generator 313 and the manual lever part 311 respectively; the motion of the manual lever part 311 drives the transmission system 312 to rotate, which further makes the rotor of the generator rotate, finally transforms the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

In the first embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, when the charger 3 is a hand cranking charger, the manual lever part 311 is a hand rocker; the transmission system 312 is a gear group which is composed of a plurality of gears. The rotating of the hand rocker drives the gears to rotate, which further makes the rotor of the generator rotate, finally transforms the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Referring to the FIG. 5, when the charger 3 is a hand grip charger, the manual lever part 311 includes a fold chord 3110 with a certain angle. The fold chord 3110 includes a connecting rod and a handle, one end of the connecting rod is defined inside the charger 3 and is in hinge joint with the shell of the charger 3, while the other end goes through the shell of the charger 3 and connect to one end of the handle; and the handle is sets outside the charger 3. The manual lever part 311 further includes a spring 3111 that is defined inside the charger 3, one end of the spring 3111 is fixed inside the charger 3, while the other end is connected to the connecting rod; The spring 3111 is in compression or normal state. The transmission system 312 includes a rack and pinion mechanism 3121 which comprises of a gear and an arcuate rack, and further includes a second transmission mechanism 3122. One end of the arcuate rack is engaged along its length with the gear, while the other end is in permanent connection to the fold chord 3110. The arcuate rack will drive the gear to rotate by pressing the handle, which further makes the second transmission mechanism 3122 drive the rotor of generator 313 to rotate, thus transforms the mechanical energy to electrical energy. Along with the pressing of the handle, the spring 3111 is compressed gradually; when released, under the elastic force, the fold chord 3110 to return to the initial position for the next press. In this way, the charger can be charged by only pressing the handle for a certain angle, which is convenient to use.

Referring to FIG. 3, the structure in FIG. 5 is the same with that in FIG. 3 except the manual lever part and the transmission system. In the present embodiment, a circuit board 32 and a power module 33 is defined inside the charger 3; the power module 33 is connected to the generator 313 and the circuit board 32 respectively, the power module 33 is used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator 313; the circuit board 32 is also connected to the connecting wire 22 and the circuit board 32 as well as the connector 2 is used to transmit the electrical energy stored in the power module 33 to the atomizer 1. The power module 33 can be a current chargeable battery or an energy storage circuits. In the present embodiment, for the reason that the power module 33 is defined inside the charger 3, but not defined inside the cigar pipe 21 which is same as the majority electronic cigarette, so the volume of the power module 33 is not confined by the inner space of the cigar pip 21. It is able to use the batteries with large volume and high capacity or the energy storage circuits with high capacity, and has the advantage to increase the using time after each charging as well as decrease the times to get charged.

FIG. 4 illustrates the section view of the connector in the second embodiment of the present invention. The only difference between the embodiment and the first embodiment is that the power module 33 is not defined inside the charger 3 but inside the connector 2, such as being inside the cigar pipe 21. That is, in the second embodiment it adopts a charger 3 that doesn't include a power module inside, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The generator 313 is connected to the circuit board 32 and the power module 33 is connected to the circuit board 32 though the connecting wire 22, the circuit board 32 and the connecting wire 22 is used to transmit the electrical energy generated by the generator 313 to the power module 33 and then store electrical energy into the power module 33.

In the two embodiments mentioned above, the connecting way between the circuit board 32 and the connecting wire 22 can be the same. In specific, referring to FIG. 4, a socket connecting to the circuit 32 is provided on the charger 3 while a second plug 221 is provided on one end of the connecting wire 22, by inserting the second plug 221 into the socket, the connecting wire 22 is connected to the circuit board 32. Optically, the second plug 221 is a USB plug, while the socket is a USB interface. But the second plug is not limited to USB interface, and the charger and the connector can be connected through the combination of the power port and other plugs.

In specific, when it refers to the first embodiment represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, wherein, the charger 3 can be a charger of hand cranking type or of hand grip type with a power module 33 inside. By inserting the connector 2 into the charger 3, the mechanical energy generated by the motion of the manual lever can be transformed into electrical energy through the power generate device and the electrical energy can be further stored in the power module 33. When the user smokes, the electrical energy stored inside the power module 33 is transmitted to the connector through the circuit board 32 to support the smoking process.

When it refers to the second embodiment represented in FIG. 4. Wherein, the charger 3 can be a charge of hand cranking type or hand grip type with a power module 33 inside, when the battery of the electronic cigarette is run out, insert the connector 2 into the charger 3 and through the power generate device, the mechanical energy generated by the motion of the manual lever is transformed into electrical energy which further is transmitted into the power module 33 defined inside the cigar pipe 21 through the circuit board 32 and the connecting wire 22. When smoking, through the connector 2 and the current loop formed inside the atomizer 1, the power module 33 can offer electrical energy to support the smoking process.

By adopting the electronic cigarette of the present embodiment, wherein, the power module 33 is inside the connector as well as that the cigar pipe 21 and connector 22 can be dismantled. When the smoking time is short, take off the connecting wire 22 and it becomes convenient to carry; when the smoking time is long as well as that it is hard to get the fixed power source, it is easy to charge the power module 33 by connecting the connecting wire 22 on the cigar pipe 21. By setting manual charger in the electronic cigarette, the charger can be charged at any time and anywhere, which is convenient to get charged when the battery of the electronic cigarette is run off, thus extending the using time of the electronic cigarette and being convenient.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. But all the changes will be included within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic cigarette, comprising an atomizer, wherein, it further comprising a connector, as well as a charger being electrically connected to the atomizer though the connector; the charger is a manual charger for providing power to the atomizer though the connector.
 2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein, a power generation device is defined inside the charger; the power generation device comprising a manual lever part, a transmission system and a generator; the transmission system being connected to the generator and the manual lever respectively; and the motion of the manual lever part driving the transmission system to rotate, which further making the rotor of the generator rotate, finally transforming the mechanical energy to electrical energy.
 3. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, the connector comprising a cigar pipe and a connecting wire in external connection to the cigar pipe.
 4. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, a circuit board and a power module is defined inside the charger; the power module is connected to the generator and the circuit board respectively, the power module is used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator; the circuit board is also connected to the connecting wire, and the circuit board as well as the connector is used to transmit the electrical energy stored in the power module to the atomizer.
 5. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, a circuit board is defined inside the charger while a power module is defined inside the connector; the generator is connected to the circuit board and the power module is also connected to the circuit board through the connecting wire, the circuit board and the connecting wire being used to transmit the electrical energy generated by the generator to the power module and then store the electrical energy into the power module.
 6. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein, the atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection.
 7. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, wherein, the atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection.
 8. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, the atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection.
 9. The electronic cigarette of claim 4, wherein, the atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection.
 10. The electronic cigarette of claim 5, wherein, the atomizer and the connector are in screwed connection. 